The campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson says he and another top aide have resigned.

Barry Bennett says he and communications director Doug Watts left the campaign on Thursday morning.

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Bennett says he left because of mounting frustration that Carson was listening more to his longtime business manager, Armstrong Williams, and not the advice of his paid campaign staff.

Bennett's decision comes a week after Carson told The Associated Press in an interview that he was considering a major staff shakeup, only to walk back those comments hours later.

Williams had arranged that interview without Bennett's knowledge, and Bennett says that was evidence that Williams would continue to undermine the campaign's leadership team.

Carson released a statement about the departures:

"As we enter a new phase of the campaign cycle, it is necessary to invigorate my campaign with a strategy that more aggressively shares my vision and world-view with the American people. I commend Barry Bennett and Doug Watts for their efforts to help me share my vision for America."